Wednesday, February 16, 2000
Attempted fraud lands 3rd perpetrator in prison
BY BEN L. KAUFMAN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
An interstate telemarketing scam that ended in Cincinnati led to a third sentencing on Friday.
Louis D. DeSilva, 49, of Doraville, Ga., was sentenced to four months in prison and three years of supervised release for mail fraud.
U.S. District Judge Herman J. Weber also barred Mr. DeSilva from any telemarketing activities during those three years.
Mr. DeSilva's colleagues, brothers James and Gary Burnett, of Atlanta, had been sentenced previously.
U.S. Attorney Sharon J. Zealey said the Georgians called an elderly woman in Oregon and told her a court had granted a civil judgment worth $250,000 in her favor.
To get it, however, the intended victim had to mail $34,000 cash to a Cincinnati address to pay advance federal income tax.
The unnamed woman's grandson learned of the fraud and contacted authorities. When James Burnett came to Cincinnati to pick up what he thought was the money from a mail drop, he was arrested.
The scam collapsed under work by Treasury agents and postal inspectors, Ms. Zealey said, and it was especially gratifying when “criminals are caught before the victim loses any money.”
Stadium bill up $14.3M
County bears main blame in stadium fiasco
Stadium a big political problem for Bedinghaus
Who's who on the stadium team
Child alerts take to airwaves
Officer in cruiser shootout retires
Schools get large part of tobacco settlement
City defends support for development group
Collegians find politics and fun can be good mix
Auto Expo opens today at convention center
Drug officers fan out at banks
Hotel-tax hike gains backer
Queen City's moments to shine reflected in book
'Oprah' slips in Tristate ratings
Oscar nominees hold surprises
Complete list of Oscar nominations
GET TO IT
Appeals court OKs peculiar use of jury
Attempted fraud lands 3rd perpetrator in prison
Audience appreciates Cowboy Junkies' pace
Butler chips in $3M to revamp mall
Cathedrals, universities called forces in cities
Clermont County goes all out to mark 200th
Computer technician indicted on porn charges
F. Lee Bailey says Sheppard fought 2
First-graders learn to sign
Insurer backs off cancer payments
Kentucky venture investments possible
Lincoln Heights considers new truck-ban ordinance
Man pleads guilty to child porn
Mason fire chief hurt at rescue scene
Offers made on old toys
Politicking gets cop suspended
School bus drivers defy union
Schools to aid health outreach
Slain man was naked and bound
Track condition stops the train
TRISTATE DIGEST
Victim's family helps killer avoid death
Warren officials question purchases
Woodlawn manager quits
